Automobile signal



Feb. 14

C. FAYER ET AL .lauT'olvxoBILF SIGNAL Filed Jan, 6.Y 1927 ATTORN EY Peieeie'd Feb. 14,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENroFFIcE.

CHARLES FAYER, or rLUsninG, Ann FREDERICK' irninv7 or LONG isLAND oI'rY,v` New YORK. f

AUTOMOBILE sientan Appiieetien inea January 6,1927. Aserien Ne. 159,275.

Our invention relates to automobile sig' i Y nals, of the type in which a visual signal is carried by an automobile oi' similar road vehicle, and operated directly by therhauiteur; so as to make visual indications,v to be observed by other chauffeurs or persons who happen to be present.

More particularly stated, l seek to provide an automobile signal of this general type and having its mechanism of simple construction, so arranged and adapted as tobe readily controllable by the hands of the chauileur while he is grasping and operating the steering wheel of tlie automobile. 'i

Our invention Yfurther contemplates an automobile signaljoi the'general type here contemplated, with its various parts so constructed and arranged asto constitute practically an attachment, well vadapted to be applied to and removed from an automobile or similar vehicle; already in-useV y OurV invention'also comprehends an auto- Lmobile signal of the general type above men-Vy tioned, in which al movable visualm'einber,

F e sucli as a swinging arm, is operated by aid Aot a flexible cord wound partially, upon` a drum' which. is rocked trometiine to .time under manual control; and which iseadjustable byv hand vrelatively to other parts,pin order to take up the slack of the cord yorto Ten'lllillle tllo Simile.

automobile signals7 Our invention contemplates, in addition", various improvements in the mechanism" ci' for thev purpose of 'gincreasing the efficiency thereof.

Reference isfmadejt the accompanying drawing forming part ot'this specitication-,- and `in which like reference characters ,indi-y cate like parts throughout the several figures( Figure -1 is a fragmentary rear elevation `ot our device, ask mountedand used upon an;v`

automobile; i

Figure 2 is avertical section tlirough-tlie casing in which the signal arm is journaled;

and indicates, bvtull and broken lines; two

positions of the signal arm; f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, looking in` the direction indicated by the arrows;

AFigure iis a substantially'central section through theV cylindrical casing in which vis mounted certain portions otthej actuating 3 mechanism; f n Y Y.

Figure 5 is partly a bottom plany and partsliowii in Figure 4e;

lv section; through the cylindrical casing;

- O'u're t; l K i Y. Figure elylooking .inthe direction indicated by thc arrows;

Figures? isI asection on'l the kline 7-.7 of

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by tbe arrows ;v

Figure 9 isa section through the steering column; and shows in plan the cylindricalV ycasing carried by the steering column and 6 `is a section on the line 6-4-6 ofA Figure 4, looking inthedirection indicated rlhe toot board appears at 18. the steering 'i wheel. at 14e, and the steering column at 15;

Detachably mounted upon they steering column. l5 is a clamping' ring 16, of the form ehownfmore particularlyin Figure 9,` and providedglwith clamping bolts 17. By removing thesebolts theitwo partsfot the :clamping lring 16 may beV separated. Thus the clampingring lkmay be fitted upon or removed Vtroni' the steeringcolumn, or ade` justed relatively to ythe same.

The clamping ring 16 carries a supporting pin l) extending.'laterallyfrom it; andthe lsupporting pin 19 carries at its outerend a casing 2() having a substantially cylindrical form, as indicated more particularly in Fig-y vure The casing 20-is provided with a massive ringlikeportion 21,v tlirougliwhich extends areduced threaded `portion22 ofthe suliipoiting pin-`19. Anut- 23 is fitted upon kthe threaded portionj22, and holdsthe parts tirmlytogether. e

The casing 20 carriesa bearing 24 having the *torni ot' i a cylinder, and connected With the bearing 24y is a washer 25. A shaft 26` extends through the bearing Cland washere25, and thusaxially extends through the casing 20ias may be Iunderstood fi'omuFigiureAf. f

Fitted upon the upper end of the `shaft 26 is a collar 27, held in position by a set screw 28.` The collar 27 carries a thumb, piece 29 anda pointer 30, as may be understood from Figure;4 9., The; pointer 3.0, isj adapted to inoverelatively to. the legends; Od', Stop, Left turn, and Right turn. These legends, four in numberare associatedwithfour conditions related' to the ystatus of the antonio bile. The operator by shifting the thumb iece 2l so as to move the pointer 8.0 can iiring this pointer into proximity to any one of the four legends, and` in doing this, he causes an indication to be made, as hereinafter; morer particularly descri Jed.A

Mounted fixedly upon the shaft 26,.:ind. revoluble therewith relativelyto the cylindrical; bearing; 24 is a= cylinder Sli, carrying apawl particularly' in Figure `The pawl 32 is so formed 'and arranged as toprotrude slightly from the cylinder 3l, in consequence of the actionof the spring The cylindrical bearing 25' is at its lower with ratchet notches 34, 35, 3G and 87shown more particularly in Figure 7. These ratchet. notches are so formed and arranged that the pawl 32. can protrude slightlyl into them, one at a time, as may' be understood from.` Figure Vheneverthe pawl 32 thus protrudes into any one of the notches, the cylinder 3i; and consequently the shaft 26. for the time being` secured rather firmly in relation tothe casing 20. However the-operator, bysliifting the thumb piece 2Q. as

above described, can; dislodge the pawl- 32' and thus turn the shaft 26 a. suiiicient distance t-o enable the paw-l; to protrude: slightly into theinext successivenotch. 'lhus as the pointerV 30 is shifted from one legend toaiivided withV upon' the steering other, as above describedi. the pau/132 is correspondingly shifted'. from one ratchet not-cliY to; another, so. thatV the pointer 302 is maintained in. proximity to some one of the leg'- ends at any given moment, and the various vmovable parts are not readily disturbed actuates thel Y spool 58, serving as a bearing,

except when the chauffeur thumb: piece 29;

ne. important purpose of. our invention isi-'to enable the chauffeur' to-use one ofv his thumb piece 29.

ing; EZ()`r is located steering wheel i4,

ForV this purpose, the casaiid. without any piece 29. This has been found in practice tobe accomplished quite easily..

4The lower.Y end of the cylinder 3l is proroughvsurface engages the adjacent surface of a drum. 39, iitted neatly but-loosely upon the shaft'r 26.. This` shaft is provided? withl 32 and a spring 83, as indicated niore end provided to keep his hands wheel 14, and yet be able thumbs for actuating the in closel proximity to the p' so as-to enablefthe operator `toreaclr down, withl the thumb of one hand', difiicnlty .actuat-e the thumb a rough surfane 38, and this` loosens it relatively to the shaft 2G. This leaves; the drum 39 loose,. so,v that the operatlor can turn this drum. to anyv desired eX- teiit or adjust it into a given angular position, and this done,by turning thewing nut 411 can tighten both the wing nut and the druni 39.

The, cylindrical bearing 25 carries two spring strips 44 and 45, and the revoluble cylinder' 3l carriesV a stop pin 43. rlhese parts act as a limiting stop for preventing excessive; travel. of the shaftand parts carried thereby, as this shaft is` rocked back and' forth, as above described.

Secured to the drinn 39' at the point 46, and partially wound upon the drum, is a cord 47. 'llhis cord ezitcndstiirough an eye 48, the latter being supported by a boss 49,. this boss being moitinted rigidly upon the casing 20,. as shown4 more particularly in Figures' 5 and G. The eye 48 is iuade of metal and polished, so` that the cord may move through. it with comparative. freedom.

'llhe cord. 47 extends diagonally upward from the drum 39 and eye 48 to another eye 50, the latter being mounted upon the lower end of a metallic casing 5l of the forni shown in Figures l, 2 and 3.

Thev casing `5l is provided with an open slot 52. 'Ag movable army 53 is journaled within. the easing 51, and is adapted to swing back and forthA through the open slot 52.

The swingingarni 53 carries a ruby crystal 54', to increase its` visibility. The ruby Crystalf is mounted upon the arm 53 by the set-ting shown in 58, and need not be further described as to its construction, which is well known in this art.

In order to journal the arm 53 within the casing 51, I provide this casing with a jourw nail" bolt 55, having ahead 56, through which extends a Cotter pin 57, as indicated in Figure' 3.

The journalv bolt '55 extends through a and free to turn relatively tothe journal bolt 55. The cord= 47'-, extending'- upWa-rdly through the eye 50 and practically-to the top of the casing 5l, is secured by a fastening 59l directly to the spool 58.

Mounted Within the4 casingY 51 is a cushion 6G, so located that the arm 53 can strike against it in swinging downwardly into its normal position of inactivity, as4 indicated by' broken lines in Figure 2. This prevents thef ariny from making a discord-ant noise as it drops, and also saves the casing'froii'i undue pounding` by the arm.

'.lfhecasingy 5l is provided at its back with a double thickness of material 6I, which in*- crcases' its'r strength and durability.

The casing 5ly carries an attachment plate 62, which* by means of fastenings 63 may be detachably secured upon the side of the automobile, as indicated in Figure l.

'v mobiles and similar road vehicles.

As may be readily understood from the foregoing description, our device is Well adapted for use as an attachment 'l'or auto- /That is to say, while our deviceinay be permanently built into the fautomobile Where the latter is built at the factory, it may be sold and used asa separate article ot manufacture, to

` be mounted upon practically any automobile fil! (ill

or similarl vehicle, already built.

' Not only that, but after our device is applied to an automobile already built, it can be readily detached and transferred to any other automobile. f

It may sometimes happen that, through the unaif'oidable stretching of the cord 47 or through accidental misplacement otsome oi the inovableparts, the cord i7 may be a little too long, and in some instanc it may be a little too short. As above descr ibed, the operator can adjust the vdrum 39 relative-ly to the cylinder 8l and thus to the shaft 26, and in sodoing can Wind up or let out the cord ai", so as to renderthe various parts true.i

indicated by full and-broken lines in Figure l, the arm is movable into three positions. spectivcly,` right turn.` left turn, and stop;` as may be understood from the legends above described with reterenceto- Figure 9. Besides the three positions, indicated` in Figure Il, 'the arm 52 has lstill another position.` indicated by broken lines in Figure' 2. This last mentioned position is one ot absolute lidleness, ond is indicated by the legend Oli'.

(il, and is thus grounded npon the machine.

ln the :torni o'i our device shown in Figure l() and just/described, the electric bulb 'il is energized by current from the battery 69 and thus illuminated, Whenever the arm (il isV swung out-Ward. Thus the electric bulb il and its connections serve to increase the visibility ot the arm 6e.. Except `as otherwise above indicated the structure and action oli the form of our device shown in Figure l0 is the saine as that conteinplatedV bythe other figures.

l rlhc operation oli our device may be readily understood from `the )foregoing description.

The various parts beingconstructed, assembled and arranged as shown in the drariv- These three positions mean, re-" From the `contact brush 67 a' 23 ready tor use.

The oaerator usuallV a chaudeur normallyv keeps his hand upon the steering Wheel lll, in manner Well known in this art for purposes ot drivingfan automobile. It, now, the chaui'lfeur desires to exhibit a visual signal, to apprise other chauffeurs or bystander or' the status of his automobile at any particular instant. he accomplishes this purpose by merely shi tting the thumb piece Q9, thereby causing a corresponding moveinentfof the arm 52 or G4, as the case may be. The operator by glancing kat the ylegends shown in 'Figure `9` and above described, and

noting the K4relative position kof the pointer 30, can readily determine the position-of the arm The operator soonlearns Vfrom eX- pei'ience liovv' to operate thethuinb piece 29 without lool-:ing at the legends, or in other Words, being guided altogether'by the sense ot touch. Even in this case, however, he still looks at the legends occasionally and compares. them with the position of the pointer S0. stances Where theoperator Wishes toVadjust Vthe drum 39 in oi'der tota-ke ,up or let out the cord a7, and thus to render `tlie various positions lot `the swinging arm true yand accurate, as compared Withthe indications made by the pointer 8O and the legendsl shown in Figure 9. Y

le do not limit ourselves to the precise medianisin hereinshown and described, as

variations may be made therein v'Without deivliich is commensurate '-With our claims.

l'iaving thus described our inventiomwhat n'e claim as ne'iv and desire to secure by described' Letters 'Patent is as follows:

l. In a ldevice of thecharacter the combination of a casing, a signal carried thereby, a cord connected-With said signal and movable for changing the condition of said signalgand causing kit to make diierent indications, a. ldrum connected with said cord' andv movable under manual cont-rol for the purpose ot actuating said cord, and mecha-KV nism connected with said drum and controllable bythe operator for the purpose of taking up and lettingy out the slack of said coi'd. f

2. In a device ot the character described, the combination, with an automobile having a body member, a steering column and a steering Wheel movable relatively to said steering column, of a signal carried by said automobile body, mechanism mounted upon said steering column `and including a movable actuating membei'located in close proximity to said steering Wheel to enable the operator vto move said actuating member by hand While holding said steering Wheel, connections from said actuating member to said signal, for causing movements of saidactuinc andy as' above describe-d, our device is Thisfis particularlytrue in in-VV Aparting from oury invention', the scopev of y ating member to actuate said signal', andy means controllable by the operator for adjustingl said connections, as between said actuating member and said signal.

3. ln an automobile signal the combination, with an automobile body, a steeringy column and a steering Wheel movable relatively to said steering column, ot a casing, means Jfor supporting the same, a shaft extending into said' casing and journaled to rock relatively*thereto, a Adrum connected With said sliaift and adapted to rock therewith, a llexible member partially Wound uponsaid drum, a signal carried by said automobile body and controlla-ble by movementsot' said ieiriblv connection vas actuated by the rocking oi said drum, and mefhanism carried by said aut/.m'iobile body and conected with saidk drum for indicating to the operator the condition of said signal.

4l. ln a device of the character described the combination, with an automobile body and a steering column and ysteering wheel. of a clamping collar mounted upon said steeringA column, a casing supported by said clamping collar, a bearing carried by said casing, a. shaft journaled inl said bearing, a drum mount-ed upon said shaft, a flexible connection secured to said drum and adapted to be Wound and 'unwound therefrom, and a signalling ,member secured to said flexible connection and operable by .movements there` oft,

5. A device of the character described comprising a steering column, a clamping collar detachably mounted upon said steering columin' a casing supported by said clamping collar, a bearing carried by said casing, a shaftV journaled in said bearing, a drum mounted upon said shaft and normally iixed thereupon7 means controllable by the operator for loosening saidy drum relatively to the shaft in order to adj/ust the` drum relatively to the Shaft, ar flexible connection secured tothe druim and a signal secured to said lenible connection and operated by movements thereof.

6. ln a. device of the character described the combination With an automobile body, asteering column and a steering Wheel, of a casing, means Y t'or supporting said casing upon said steering column and in close proximity to said steering Wheel, a bearing carried by said casing7 a shaft journaled in said bearing, means controllable by the operator and located within easy reach of said steering Wheel for enablingthe operator to turn said shaft, a signal carried by said automobile body, and

connections from said shaft to said signal,l

lor enabling the turning movements of said shaft to actuate said signal` 7. A device ot' the character.described comprising a casing, means for supporting the same upon an automobile body, a bearing carried by said casing, aV shaft journale'd upon said bearing, a cylindrical member carried by said shaft and provided With a rough surface. a drum mounted upon said shaft and normally engaging said rough surface, means for adjusting said drum relatively to said rough surface, and ratchet mechanism carried by said cylindricalmember and coacting With said bearing for retaining said sliaft in definite positions in which it is turned from time to time, a signalling member, and a flexible connection extending from said visual signalling member to said drum, for enabling movements of said drum to actuate said signalling member.

CHARLES FAYER. FREDERICK TICHY. 

